Squint-offsetting radar mounting tab caps

Abstract

A radar system comprises a radar device defining upper and lower pairs of mounting tabs and being configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves based on a squint angle, a mounting device configured to be attached to a surface and to receive the radar device, wherein the mounting device defines upper and lower pairs of connection position assurance (CPA) features that correspond to the upper and lower pairs of mounting tabs, and a pair of mounting tab caps configured to be selectively installed on the upper or lower pairs of mounting tabs to offset the squint angle of the radar device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A radar system, comprising:
 a radar device defining upper and lower pairs of mounting tabs each defining a first size and being configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves based on a squint angle; 
 a mounting device configured to be attached to a surface and to receive the radar device, wherein the mounting device defines upper and lower pairs of connection position assurance (CPA) features that correspond to the upper and lower pairs of mounting tabs; and 
 a pair of mounting tab caps each defining a predetermined second size that is larger than the first size such that the pair of mounting tab caps are configured to be selectively installed on the upper or lower pairs of mounting tabs to adjust an angle of the mounting device and correspondingly offset the squint angle of the radar device by a predetermined amount based on the predetermined second size. 
 
     
     
       2. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are configured to be installed on the upper pair of mounting tabs to offset a negative or downward squint angle of the radar device. 
     
     
       3. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are configured to be installed on the lower pair of mounting tabs to offset a positive or upward squint angle of the radar device. 
     
     
       4. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower pairs of CPA features are spring clips. 
     
     
       5. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are configured to be installed on the upper or lower mounting tabs prior to inserting the radar device into the mounting device. 
     
     
       6. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the squint angle of the radar device is predetermined. 
     
     
       7. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting device is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       8. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface is a surface proximate to a front portion of a vehicle and the radar device is a front-facing radar device. 
     
     
       9. The radar system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are selected from a plurality of different pairs of mounting tab caps each having a different respective predetermined second size. 
     
     
       10. A method of installing a radar system, the method comprising:
 obtaining a radar device defining upper and lower pairs of mounting tabs each defining a first size and being configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves based on a squint angle; 
 obtaining a mounting device configured to receive the radar device and defining upper and lower pairs of connection position assurance (CPA) features that correspond to the upper and lower pairs of mounting tabs; 
 attaching the mounting device to a surface; 
 selectively installing a pair of mounting tab caps, each defining a predetermined second size that is larger than the first size, on the upper or lower pairs of mounting tabs to adjust an angle of the mounting device and correspondingly offset the squint angle of the radar device by a predetermined amount based on the predetermined second size; and 
 inserting the radar device into the mounting device. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are installed on the upper pair of mounting tabs to offset a negative or downward squint angle of the radar device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are installed on the lower pair of mounting tabs to offset a positive or upward squint angle of the radar device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the upper and lower pairs of CPA features are spring clips. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pair of mounting tab caps are installed on the upper or lower mounting tabs prior to inserting the radar device into the mounting device. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising predetermining the squint angle of the radar device. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting device is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is a surface proximate to a front portion of a vehicle and the radar device is a front-facing radar device. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting the pair of mounting tab caps from a plurality of different pairs of mounting tab caps each having a different respective predetermined second size. 
     
     
       19. A radar system, comprising:
 a radar means for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves based on a squint angle, the radar means defining upper and lower pairs of mounting feature means each defining a first size; 
 a mounting means for attachment to a surface and for receiving the radar means, the mounting means defining upper and lower pairs of connection position assurance (CPA) feature means that correspond to the upper and lower pairs of mounting feature means; and 
 a pair of mounting feature cap means each defining a predetermined second size that is larger than the first size such that the pair of mounting tab cap means are for selective installation on the upper or lower pairs of mounting feature means to adjust an angle of the mounting device means and correspondingly offset the squint angle of the radar means by a predetermined amount based on the predetermined second size. 
 
     
     
       20. The radar system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the pair of mounting feature cap means are for installation on the upper pair of mounting feature means to offset a negative or downward squint angle of the radar means; and 
 the pair of mounting feature cap means are for installation on the lower pair of mounting feature means to offset a positive or upward squint angle of the radar means.